Workshop Abstracts

Name of Session:

Session D 1

Factory Farming: The Impact of Animal Feeding Operations on the Environment and Health of Local Communities.

Description of Session

Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) typically hold hundreds or thousands of animals on small parcels of land. There are approximately 238,000 CAFOs in the U.S that generate more than 500 million tons of animal waste annually. CAFOs have become an increasing source of concern because of their impact on the environment, human health, and quality of life of rural populations. A review of health literature reveals potential adverse health effects associated with CAFOs that include groundwater contamination, air contamination, respiratory disease, and the creation and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Researchers are also finding that antibiotics and steroids used in CAFOs are being detected in the ground water and in private wells near these facilities and little is known about possible health effects from chronic low-level exposure to these contaminants. The lack of health effects clearly associated with CAFOs makes regulatory authorities reticent to pass laws restricting CAFO development. The panel will discuss the lack of adverse health effects in many studies, community concerns at CAFOs, future research directions, and policy.